Free Secondary Education

Southland Times, Issue 18064, 6 February 1903, Page 2

Free Secondary Education

Speaking at the meeting of the Borough Oouncil yesterday evening the Mayor referred to tho article which bad appeared in tho Southland Times in reference to the action of tho High Schools Board in accepting the offer of the Government as to free places. The mayor is a member of the Board of Governors by virtue of his municipal office, and remarked in the course of his explanation, that ho wished to remove any misunderstanding that might arise in consequence of the article. The Southland Times seemed to have taken the view -that tho matter did not recei\-o sufficient consideration. He quite disagreed with that, as he thought the question had been very fully considered indeed, in tho first place he might say tliat every proposition put forward in the article had been carefully and fully considered by the Board previous to their acceptance of tho offer . The principal^ questions were thoso of staff and accommodation, and these questions, to the mind ot the Board, wero simple, although to the writer of tho article they seemed great obstacles. The Board thought they hati a school with accommodation and staff for a certain number of pupils, and as long as the number applying, was not greater than they could accommodate there would be no harm done. If there was not su/liciont accommodation anH no funds to build^ the Government would be informed that the Board haa taken in all it could, and a request would be made for funds to provide the necessary accommodation for all who applied. The question of funds was nlso carefully considered. For a considerable time tho Board had been giving two years' free education to 15 pupils, which meant that ev<ery year there wero 30 free pu- j pils, and sometime- a few more. Again, they had a large number at half fees (£5). A vory considerable number of applications had been made, and the Board find that the extra revenue and the doing away with a number of free places previously granted by them would result in (in increase in income of £380 for the present year. That would enable them to get two oxtrn, teachers at total salaries of .£3OO, and ,]eave £80 lor extra expenses. The Board were not very far wrong when they could accommodate all who applied, provide extra staff, and , havo a surplus. The very fact of there being a considerable number of applications showed that the Board were right in accepting, tho proposition, and they felt that in not accepting it they would have failed in their duty— and thoy did not care to take that responsibility. Tho wisdom of free .secondary education was also discussed, but each member had his own opinion about It. nnd it was more a political question. It was just as well that the public should be informed that the Board had fully discussed tho question, and talyj^ al}, tbg circumstances' ii)to cpj-Biderallo-.r